VZCZCXYZ0017
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #3060/01 3181954
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141954Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1274

UNCLAS LA PAZ 003060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/SAT AND WHA/AND LPETRONI 
STATE PASS TO NASA/GSFC TPOSEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT AFIN ASEC TSPA OTRA BL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NASA'S COMPTON TUCKER 
 
REF: STATE 186472 
 
¶1.     Embassy La Paz is pleased to grant country clearance 
to Compton J. Tucker, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, to 
travel to Santa Cruz, Bolivia December 5-16, 2006 for 
analysis of global positioning system and satellite data from 
glacial areas.  Clearance is granted on the understanding 
that Mr. Tucker has read and understood the security and 
medical warnings in paragraphs six and seven of this 
telegram.  Commencing travel serves as confirmation that none 
of these restrictions apply.  Embassy La Paz is unaware of 
any security clearance for Mr. Tucker. 
 
¶2.     The U.S. Embassy has received reports from official 
visitors and tourists of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano domestic and 
international flight cancellations, with resultant delays and 
other inconveniences for travelers.  Given Lloyd's severe 
financial difficulties and reduced number of aircraft, delays 
and flight cancellations have been and will likely remain 
common.  Official visitors and tourists should keep this in 
mind when making travel plans. 
 
¶3.     Mr. Tucker's control officer will be 
Economic/Commercial Officer Colleen Crenwelge, who can be 
reached at 591-715-30321 (cell) and 591-2-216-8225 (office). 
 
¶4.     Visa requirements: Personnel traveling with Official 
or Diplomatic passports must obtain a visa before they 
commence travel. 
 
¶5.     Funding: Each visitor, regardless of length of stay, 
must bring/forward fiscal data to pay for direct costs of the 
visit.  Each agency, organization or visiting delegation will 
be charged for the actual costs attributed to its visit. 
Direct charge costs include, but are not limited to: airport 
transportation and expediting; driving services; American and 
LES overtime (for such services as airport expediting, 
cashier accommodation exchange, control room staffing, 
representational event support); travel and per diem costs 
incurred by post personnel in support of visitor's field 
travel; rental of vehicles and other equipment; long distance 
telephone calls; office supplies, procurement/small 
purchasing; departure tax and other airport fees.  Post will 
not provide service if fiscal data is not provided for the 
direct charges. 
 
For TDYers remaining at post over 30 days, there is a charge 
for ICASS support services.  This charge is for the following 
ICASS services: Basic Package, CLO and Health Services.  The 
charge per month is approximately $86.00.  Agencies will not 
be billed until the accumulated invoice cost for TDY support 
exceeds $2,500 for the fiscal year.  If your sponsoring 
agency is not signed up for ICASS services at post, please be 
prepared to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for ICASS 
support services upon arrival.  The agency should provide 
post with a written communication, generated by the 
traveler's headquarters, that confirms the agency will pay 
ICASS charges for the TDYer, provides the agency ICASS 
billing code to which the TDY support charges should be 
applied, and authorizes the traveler to sign the ICASS 
invoice generated by the TDY module.  Where travel is urgent, 
the TDYer should bring this documentation with him/her to 
ensure there are no interruptions in the provision of 
service.  Post will not provide any service to a TDYer 
staying in excess of thirty days without provision of this 
documentation before day 31 of the TDY. 
 
¶6.     Security Advisories: 
 
6A)    Bolivia is currently rated at medium to high threat 
level for crime. 
 
6B)    Although there have been no recent terrorist incidents 
targeting U.S. Mission Personnel, visitors are advised to 
maintain a high level of security awareness and take normal 
precautions, such as varying times and routes, while in 
Bolivia. 
 
6C)    Demonstrations frequently occur in La Paz, 
occasionally involving violence between police and 
demonstrators; visitors should avoid areas where 
demonstrations are taking place. 
 
6D)    Pick pocketing, purse snatching and car theft are 
common and all personnel are advised to limit the cash, 
credit cards, jewelry and other valuables they carry on the 
city streets. 
 
6E)    Because of recurring incidents of civil unrest and 
violence in the Chapare area (between Cochabamba and Santa 
Cruz), all visitors to the Chapare must check with the 
Embassy Regional Security Office before traveling to that 
area. 
 
¶7.     Medical -- Attention!  Very Important! 
 
7A)    Altitude:  The altitude of La Paz is between 10,000 
feet and 13,400 feet (4,075 meters) above sea level.  The 
altitude alone poses a serious risk of illness, 
hospitalization, and even death, if you have a medical 
condition that affects blood circulation or breathing. 
 
7B)    State Department's Office of Medical Services (M/MED) 
strongly advises against any travel (including temporary 
duty) to La Paz if you have: 
 
7B1)   Sickle Cell Anemia or Sickle Cell Trait:  at least 30 
percent of persons with Sickle Cell Trait will have a crisis 
at elevations of more than 8,000 feet.  In the U.S., sickle 
cell trait occurs in 7 to 10 percent of the African-American 
population and in 0.046 percent of persons of other origin. 
 
7B2)   Heart Disease:  If you are a man 45 years or older, or 
a woman 55 years or older, and have two of the following risk 
factors (Hypertension, Diabetes, cigarette smoking, or 
elevated cholesterol), it is highly recommended to have a 
cardiologist evaluation before coming. 
 
7B3)   Lung Disease:  If you have asthma and are on maximum 
dosage of medication for daily maintenance, or have been 
hospitalized for your asthma within the last year, it is 
highly recommended to have a doctor's evaluation before 
coming. 
 
7B4)  Diabetes:  If you have diabetes, please note that only 
the One Touch Ultra Meter, One Touch Fast Take Meter, and the 
One Touch Surestep have been tested and labeled for use up to 
10,000 feet.  Other models may give inaccurate readings of 
blood sugar levels at high altitude. 
 
7C)   Adjustment to Altitude:  All people, even healthy and 
fit persons, will feel symptoms of Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) 
upon arrival at high altitude.  Most people will have 
increased respiration and increased heart rate.  Many people 
will have headaches, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, 
minor gastric and intestinal upsets, and mood changes.  To 
help prevent these complications: 
 
7C1)  The Health Unit strongly/strongly recommends taking 
Acetazolamide (Diamox), 125 mg twice a day -- starting one 
day before traveling, on the day of the trip, and two to 
three days after arriving at high altitude.  This medication 
has a slight diuretic effect, and stimulates respiration.  It 
is available only by prescription in the U.S., but can be 
obtained from M/MED (located in Columbia plaza across from 
Main State in WASHDC).  Diamox cannot be taken by pregnant 
women and nursing mothers.  Consider that many health care 
providers in the U.S. are not familiar with high-altitude 
medicine, don't let them dissuade you from taking the Diamox. 
 If you have a severe allergy to sulfa, you may not be able 
to take Diamox.  One possible alternative is Ginkgo Biloba at 
80 - 120 mg twice a day.  Ginkgo Biloba has experientially 
shown to be effective but does need further study.  Do not 
take Ginkgo Biloba if you take blood-thinning medications. 
 
7C2)  Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least one week after 
your arrival. 
 
7C3)  Limit physical activity for the first 36 to 48 hours 
after your arrival. 
 
7C4)  For those who exercise, expect that you will not be 
able to perform your normal routine for several weeks. 
Please start slowly! 
 
7D)   Vaccinations:  All routine childhood immunizations 
should be up to date.  Yellow Fever vaccine is mandatory for 
all personnel who will travel to tropical areas.  TDY 
personnel coming from the Washington, D.C. area should 
consult the immunization clinic in M/Med (phone: 
202-663-1707) for current medical information and 
immunization recommendations.  Please obtain this prior to 
arrival to assure immunity.  Travelers from other areas 
should consult a travel medicine clinic in their area.  If 
you plan to visit Brazil following your trip to Bolivia, you 
will be required to show immunization with the Yellow Fever 
vaccine.  Bolivia is considered a Yellow Fever endemic 
country. 
 
7E)   If you plan on spending time in the malarious areas of 
Bolivia, please obtain your malaria prophylaxis prior to 
arrival. 
 
 
7F)   Medical Evacuation:  Medical facilities in La Paz are 
not adequate to handle serious medical problems.  There are 
no adequate facilities for the treatment of cardiac problems 
in La Paz. 
 
It is extremely important that TDY personnel not eligible for 
medical evacuation at U.S. Government expense take out 
medical evacuation insurance prior to travel to Bolivia.  As 
FAA regulations prevent most U.S. registered air ambulances 
from landing at the La Paz airport, your insurance must cover 
the cost of travel from La Paz to other cities in Bolivia by 
non-U.S. registered aircraft.  This is in addition to 
coverage for return to the United States.  It is also 
important to be sure that your health insurance covers you 
overseas.  You will be expected to pay up front for all 
medical bills incurred. 
 
7G)   Check-In:  Please report to the Embassy Health Unit 
within the first 24-48 hours after arrival to receive further 
health related information concerning Bolivia. 
 
¶8.    Please contact post if you require further information 
at telephone number: (591) (2) 216-8000. 
GOLDBERG